Long Beach Police arrest three teens in gang-related slaying

LONG BEACH — After working through the night, police arrested three teenagers for the fatal shooting of a Long Beach resident who was gunned down in front of a 12-year-old girl late Tuesday.

Officers called to the area of Seventh Street and Rose Avenue at about 8:50 p.m. Tuesday found the victim on the ground with a gunshot wound to the upper torso, said Sgt. Aaron Eaton, a Long Beach Police Department spokesman.

The victim, identified as 20-year-old Gerardo Palencia, was rushed to a local hospital where he later died, the sergeant said.

The preliminary investigation revealed Palencia was walking in the area alongside a 12-year-old girl who was riding a scooter and they had just passed three suspects who were leaving a business in the area of Gaviota Avenue and Seventh Street when the confrontation occurred.

The girl, a relative of the victim, was just steps in front of Palencia when the suspects confronted him, asking him what gang he belonged to, Eaton said.

The victim did not respond and tried to rush the little girl out of the area, but the suspects followed him on their bicycles and caught up to the victim just before Rose Avenue, the sergeant said.

"One of the suspects, without provocation, produced a firearm and shot at the victim multiple times," Eaton said.

The trio then fled the area while the 12-year-old girl, who was not injured, ran into a nearby business for help.

Investigators arrested three suspects, all from Long Beach, early Wednesday: 19-year-old Montreal Hill, 18-year-old Eric Hubbard and a 15-year-old boy, whose name was withheld because he is a minor.

All have been booked on a charge of first degree murder with an allegation the slaying was carried out to benefit their gang, Eaton said.

Homicide detectives are expected to take their case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office this week for filing, the sergeant said.

Hubbard and Hill are being held on $1 million bail each, while the juvenile is being held without bail.

The shooting marked the second homicide in Long Beach within the past week, though it does not appear to be related to last Friday's slaying, Eaton said.

Estuaredo Rodriguez, 19, of Long Beach may also have been victim of gang violence when he was gunned down near Seventh and Chestnut Avenue Friday night, police said.

Anyone with information on either slaying is urged to call the Homicide Detail at 562-570-7244.